Fine Press Books – Ensuring a Tradition

The movement of fine press and book arts first began as a
reaction against the industrialization of printing. Certain printers such as Horace
Walpole and William Morris began to focus more on quality and matching of worthy
texts with artistic expression as a way to enhance the experience of book
readers. This is reflected significantly
in the structure and design of such books with the goal to promote appreciation
of fine press books and to encourage their production. This is pursued by increased interaction
between book printers, designers in the book arts and the writers themselves. In the Information Age we find ourselves in,
it is not just mass production that is being taken on by fine press book makers
– it is the actual physical nature of
books itself!

As you see with this old book with elaborate gilding it is not a new concept.image via wikimedia

At this point, it should be taken into consideration just who is going to buy these more expensive
fine press books? The short answer is a
simple supply-and-demand scenario. First
of all, accept that it is an economic fact that paper books are becoming less accessible
for readers with limited budgets and/or space in their homes to keep them. This
encourages book connoisseurs in such a state to more readily accept using
e-readers and downloading digital books due to the lower prices available. Even those with disposable income are still
attracted to the bargains found in e-books and prize the practical ability to carry
a virtual library around in the form of a compact electronic tablet. As a natural result of the growing popularity
and commonness of e-books, paper books are
becoming increasingly rare. If a book is considered special as an object in
itself, readers are persuaded of its higher value. Even now, paper books have
become collectors’ items. Some collect paper
books based on their nostalgia-factor, others for the sensory experience that does
not exist in digitized books.

Slate Magazine’s Michael Agresta presents in his article What Will Become of the Paper Book? that as the role of books as “vessels for delivering text is lost to or taken
over by digital, their other qualities will grow in importance.” This idea supports that fine press books are significant
now and will continue to be well into the future. Fine press editions appeal to the nostalgic
consumer of paper books and have a certain status symbol value separate from
the mass-produced paper books.

Even though new publications are now usually offered with a
choice of hard-copy or electronic format, this does not herald the end of paper
books. The fact that hard-copy is still offered affords hope that the homes of
serious digital-age readers will continue to include paper books. However, these home libraries will be curated
in an increasingly judicious manner. So who will buy fine press books? - “The people who buy them love books - as I
do. They love handling them, are drawn to the illustrations, and admire quality
of the typography and binding” says Colin Neville, handler and seller of fine press books online. Fine press books rival decorative art hung on walls with their
characteristics of beauty, glamorous expense and intentional value. Bookstores
are evolving an identity along the line of boutique shops or art galleries. Even sellers of used paper books often have a section
specific to antique or collectible books in their stores. Fine press books have been around a long time
and it can be expected that their tradition will grow and continue long after
the memory of paper books as the norm is gone.
They will be both relic and modern luxury, which is the sense they garner
in the millennial generation already.

Do you collect paper books? Are there fine press books in your collection or have you considered adding them? Please weigh in with comments about why you like them and how you feel about their significance in the past, present
and future. Share your ideas and let me know
if there is something I have missed that should be discussed in the ongoing
dialogue of the arts.

Marbled paper often used to decorate the cover interior on fine press books. image via wikimedia

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Inspiration and Originality Underlined is a collection of articles intended to draw focus on the contributions and perspectives of artists, authors and creatives of all mediums.
You are invited to be part of the ongoing dialogue about art here.